This week is Child Safety Week and the message this year from the Child Accident Prevention Trust (CAPT) is Small steps to safety, all about making little changes at home to make a safer environment for your children and family. Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service is supporting this campaign and have written this blog to offer some tips on keeping children safe.

We don’t want to ‘wrap children in cotton wool’. Scrapes and bruises are part of growing up. But we don’t think children should die, be disabled or disfigured in accidents that can be prevented.

Falls are one of the most common causes of childhood accidents. Approximately six toddlers are admitted to hospital every day because they’ve been so badly burnt. Many accidents can be prevented in just one minute, by moving dangerous objects out of a child’s reach.

Many children who go to hospital with a burn or a scald are referred for more treatment. Recovery may be painfully slow and many are left with permanent scars. Children can also suffer burns after contact with open fires, cookers, irons, curling tongs, hair straighteners, cigarettes, matches, cigarette lighters and many other hot surfaces. Here are some very small steps parents can take in keeping children safe.

Never hold a hot drink and a child at the same time

Never leave young children alone in the bathroom or kitchen

Always put hot drinks out of reach, ensuring they are away from the edges of tables and worktops

Use rear hotplates where possible and turn the panhandles away from the front of the cooker

Keep small children out of the kitchen whenever possible

Lower the temperature of your hot water system to 46°C or fit a thermostatic mixing valve to taps

When running a bath turn the cold water on first and always test the water temperature before letting a child get into the bath

Practice your fire escape plan at home today

Keep matches and lighters away from children

Use a fire guard on all fires and heaters

Don’t allow children to be left alone in the kitchen when you are cooking

Test your smoke alarm is working every week

You can book a FREE Home Fire Safety visit by Shropshire Fire and Rescue by calling 01743 260 260.

If you want to find out more about keeping children safe you can get in touch with the Family Information Service on 01743 254400 or email ShropshireFIS@shropshire.gov.uk